Rafael Fierro

Rafael Fierro is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of New Mexico (UNM), affiliated with the School of Engineering. He leads the MARHES (Multi-Agent, Robotics, Hybrid and Embedded Systems) Laboratory, focusing on interdisciplinary research in robotics, hybrid systems, and multi-agent coordination. His work is funded by the Army Research Office (ARO) and NSF, with notable awards including the 2004 NSF CAREER Award and a Fulbright Scholarship. Dr. Fierro’s research interests include heterogeneous multivehicle coordination, cooperative control, mobile sensor networks, and aerospace applications. He also develops educational initiatives like “Robotic Games” to engage children in STEM. His editorial roles include serving as Associate Editor for the Journal of Intelligent and Robotics Systems and IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.

Education:

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, 1997
• MSc in Control Engineering, University of Bradford, UK, 1990
• BS in Electrical Engineering, National Polytechnic School, Ecuador, 1987

Research Trends: Recent articles emphasize safe control for autonomous systems, multi-UAV coordination, and resilient aerospace applications. Key themes include adaptive control for non-rigid structures, vision-based landing, and counter-UAS strategies using reinforcement learning.

Awards & Grants:

• NSF CAREER Award (2004)
• Fulbright Scholarship
• Funding from ARO and NSF for robotics and control projects

Labs & Initiatives: MARHES Lab explores hybrid systems, robotics, and educational outreach through Robotic Games. Collaborations include field-testing multi-robot counter-UAS systems and environmental monitoring via UAV swarms.